Machine for packaging a product with a pamphlet

ABSTRACT

A packaging machine comprises a transfer device for inserting a product into a package and a circulating leaflet supply device comprising a plurality of tong-like holders which are sequentially disposed, each for receiving one leaflet and for bringing that leaflet into a region of the transfer device between the product and the package such that it can be inserted together with the product into the package. An opening unit with several stops, which can be actuated independently of each other, is disposed in the transport path of the holders for opening the holders to release the leaflet. The stops can be brought into an inoperative position in which the holders pass by the stops without releasing the leaflet. In this connection, the leaflet supply device comprises first holders to be opened by a first stop, and second holders to be opened by a second stop, and successive, sequential holders cooperate with and can be opened by different stops.

This application is the national stage of PCT/EP03/03528 filed on Apr.4, 2003 and also claims Paris Convention priority of DE 102 23 066.8filed May 24, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns a packaging machine having a transfer device forinserting a product into a package, and with a circulating leafletsupply device comprising a plurality of tong-like holders which aredisposed in a row, each for receiving one leaflet, the leaflet supplydevice disposing the leaflet in the region of the transfer devicebetween the product and the package such that the leaflet can beinserted together with the product into the package, wherein an openingunit, comprising several stops which can be actuated separately, isdisposed in the transport path of the holders to open the holders forreleasing the leaflet, wherein the stops can be brought into anon-operative position in which the holder passes the stops withoutreleasing the leaflet.

A packaging machine of this type usually has a first circulating supplydevice for the package, e.g. a so-called folded box chain, and a secondcirculating supply device for the products, e.g. a so-called productchain. The motions of these two chains are synchronized such that theproduct can be laterally inserted into the folded box by an insertionplunger, transversely to the direction of motion of the chains. Forcertain products, e.g. medication, an additional leaflet or side notemust be inserted into the package. For this reason, one furthercirculating supply device is provided which supports several tong-likeholders each of which can receive and clamp one leaflet. A leaflet to beinserted into the package is positioned in the supply device between theproduct and the folded box and is carried along by the product throughits lateral inserting motion to be inserted into the folded box. As soonas the product abuts the leaflet, the tong-like holder must be opened torelease the leaflet. Towards this end, an opening unit is provided inthe region of the transfer device, e.g. in the form of a stop or openingwedge, against which the tong-like holder abuts during its supply motionthereby opening the tong arms and releasing the leaflet.

Small irregularities may occur during operation of the packagingmachine. The folded boxes may thereby be supplied to the folded boxchain or the products supplied to the product chain in a discontinuousfashion such that either one or more sections of the folded box chainhave no folded box or one or more sections of the product chain containno product. A sensor detects when a folded box or a product is missingsuch that the insertion plunger is not activated and no product isinserted.

In older packaging machines, the stop is rigidly installed and thetong-like holder also opens when no product is being inserted into afolded box. It has turned out that the leaflet released in this case,can move randomly through the packaging machine and cause malfunction aswell as temporary stoppage, which requires time-consuming and expensivemanual intervention. To solve this problem, DE 199 18 527 A1 proposesbringing the opening wedge out of the transport path of the tong-likeholder into an inoperative position, when required. In this fashion, thetong-like holder opens and releases the leaflet only when a folded boxis actually present in the folded box chain and the product chaincontains a product. When no folded box or no product is present, theopening wedge is removed from the transport path of the tong-likeholders such that the tong-like holder with leaflet passes the stop andis not opened thereby. The stop then returns into its operative positionto open the next tong-like holder if the conditions required thereforare met.

In a modern packaging machine, the amount of time required for oneworking cycle is only a few milliseconds. During this time, theconditions required for adjusting the stop, at least with regard to theproduct and the package, must be detected and evaluated and theoperating means must be activated to adjust the stop. To ensure saferemoval of the leaflet from the tong-like holder during insertion of theproduct, the tong-like holder must be kept open by the stop for asufficient period of time. This required period of time is usuallylonger than the working cycle of a rapidly working packaging machine. Inthis case, DE 199 18 527 A1 proposes a stop consisting of several stopelements disposed one behind the other in the transport direction of thetong-like holders, which can be adjusted independently of each otherbetween the operative position and the inoperative position. The size ofeach stop element in the transport direction of the tong-like holders isthereby smaller than the mutual separation between successive holderssuch that each stop element can return to its operative position as soonas a holder which cannot be opened has passed it and before the nextholder comes into the region of the stop element. It has turned outthat, when the packaging machine works rapidly, the cycling times, i.e.the time between passage of successive tong-like holders and thereforesuccessive leaflets, is too short to come to a decision concerning theopening or not opening of the tongs and to adjust the stops or the stopelements accordingly as well as to carry out the adjustment motion ofthe stops with sufficient precision when required.

It is the underlying purpose of the present invention to provide apackaging machine of the mentioned type with which sufficient time isprovided for a precise adjustment motion of the stops.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This object is achieved in accordance with the invention with apackaging machine of the above-mentioned type in that the leaflet supplydevice has first holders which can be opened only by a first stop, andsecond holders which can be opened only by a second stop and thatsuccessive, sequential holders cooperate with different stops and can beopened thereby.

In the present case, one initially assumes that the leaflet supplydevice bears tong-like holders of two different designs, i.e. firstholders and second holders. The first holders are associated with afirst adjustable stop through which the first holders can be opened whenthe first stop is in its operative position and a first holder abutsagainst the first stop. A second adjustable stop is provided for thesecond holders which opens the second holders when located in itsoperative position and a second holder abuts against it. It is therebyessential in accordance with the invention that the first and secondholders are disposed in alternating sequence on the leaflet supplydevice. In this fashion, e.g. the first holders have the first, third,fifth (etc.) position in the row of holders of the leaflet supply devicewhile the second holders have the second, fourth, sixth (etc.) position.Each stop must be activated only in every second working cycle such thata sufficiently long time remains to ensure safe removal of the leafletfrom the tong-like holder during insertion of the product as well as toobtain precise adjustment of the stop when required.

In this embodiment having first and second holders, two working cyclesare available for detecting and processing the relevant status data andfor adjusting the stops. If this time is not sufficient, in particularwhen the working cycle time is further reduced, a further development ofthe invention may provide that the leaflet supply device has additionalthird holders which can only be opened by a third stop. In thisembodiment, the first, second and third holders would be placed on theleaflet supply device in this order and in repeated sequence such thatevery third holder of the row has a similar design and a period of threeworking cycles is provided for the detection and processing of relevantstatus data and for initiation and carrying out of the adjustment motionof the stops.

The stops are preferably designed as conventional stop parts or stopstrips which are disposed one above the other, next to the leafletsupply device and which extend in the longitudinal direction thereof.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the stops are biased bysprings into their inoperative position such that activation of acontrollable actuating device is required to bring or keep a stop in theoperative position against its spring bias as long as the conditionsrequired for opening the tong-like holder and release of the leaflet aremet. The actuating device may be a pneumatic or hydraulic adjustmentcylinder. The stops can be adjusted and, in particular, displacedsubstantially perpendicular to the transport direction of the leafletsupply device.

To open a tong-like holder, a stop part thereof must come into contactwith the associated stop. Since the transport speed in a rapidly workingpackaging machine is high, relatively large dynamic forces occur whenthe stop part of the holder abuts against the associated stop. To keepthe internal loads produced thereby as small as possible, a furtherdevelopment of the invention provides that at least one roller isprovided as a stop part of the holder, which comes into abutment withthe stop and rolls thereon to avoid excessive frictional forces. Inpractice, it has turned out to be helpful to associate at least twoparallel adjacent rollers with each stop part such that when the holderabuts against the stop, a larger surface is available to reduce loads.

During operation of a packaging machine, the plunger with which theproduct is inserted into the package is activated only when a product ispresent, when a leaflet is present having the right code, and when apackage and folding box is present. The corresponding queries ordetections are carried out in the packaging machine and thecorresponding data is input to a data storage, a so-called shiftregister, and can be queried therefrom. This data also forms the basisfor the decision as to whether or not the tong-like holder is opened torelease the leaflet. To keep the data processing effort as small aspossible, initiation of an opening motion of a tong-like holder is noteffected directly by accessing the above-mentioned shift register data.In a further development of the invention, this data is used onlyindirectly by providing a first detector device by which the insertionmotion of the product into the package is detected and a correspondinginsertion signal is issued to a control device. An insertion motion ofthe product occurs only when the plunger is initiated, which againdepends on observance of the above-mentioned conditions. When the firstdetector device determines that the plunger is moved to insert theproduct, the above-mentioned conditions must all be met. The insertionsignal indicates whether or not the leaflet is to be released throughopening of the associated tong-like holder.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a second detector device isalso provided which detects the position and the structure of the nextholder to be opened and transmits a corresponding holder signal to thecontrol device. The second detector device thereby determines whether aholder has reached a predetermined position and whether the holder is ofthe first structure (first holder) which can be opened by the firststop, a second holder of the second structure (second holder) which canbe opened by the second stop or, optionally, a holder of the thirdstructure (third holder) which can be opened by the third stop.

The control device evaluates whether the tong-like holder is to beopened or remain closed on the basis of the received insertion signaland which of the stops can be brought into or be held in the operativeposition through enablement of the respective actuation device to openthe holder determined by the second detector device. When the actuatingdevice of the associated stop is not activated, the tong-like holderpasses the opening unit without being opened. The leaflet is removedfrom the holder at another location of the leaflet supply device e.g. bya further stop and is discharged or disposed of in a suitable fashion.

To use and correspondingly adjust the packaging machine for products ofdifferent sizes, the first detector device, the second detector deviceand the opening unit, including all stops, can be adjusted as a unit inthe transport direction of the leaflet supply device.

Further details and features of the invention can be extracted from thefollowing description of an embodiment with reference to the drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a transfer device in apackaging machine; and

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged representation of an opening unit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 schematically shows a transfer device 10 of a packaging machinewhich comprises a folding box chain 28 (only schematically shown) whichextends in the direction of the arrow FK for receiving folding boxes orpackages V and a product chain 29 extending parallel thereto in thedirection of the arrow PK which receives products P to be packaged. Tofacilitate the illustration, FIG. 1 shows only one package V and oneproduct P. The motions of the folding box chain 28 and the product chain29 are synchronized such that the product P can be inserted into theopen package V by a plunger 11 in the transfer device 10 and transverseto the direction of motion of the chains 28, 29. The plunger 11 therebyfollows an insertion curve EK.

A circulating leaflet tong chain 27 (transport path PZK) extends between(below and parallel to) the folding box chain 28 and product chain 29and carries, at regular intervals, a plurality of tong-like holders 15,16 between the jaws of which one leaflet 22, 23 (see FIG. 2) can beclamped in an upright position. The leaflet 22, 23 is guided such thatit is disposed between the package V and the product P in the region ofthe transfer device and, when the product P is laterally inserted intothe package V, it is carried along by the product and inserted into thepackage V. The holder 15, 16 clamping the leaflet 22, 23 must be openedwhen the leaflet 22, 23 is inserted into the package V. Towards thisend, the transfer device 10 has an opening unit 12 comprising twoindependent opening devices which are each structured as adjustablestops 13 and 14. The stops are disposed one above the other and extendparallel to the transport path PZK of the leaflet tong chain 27 and ofthe tong-like holders 15, 16. Each stop 13, 14 has an associatedactuating device 24, 25 with which the stops 13, 14 can be adjustedsubstantially perpendicular to the transport path PZK of the tong-likeholders 15, 16, between an operative position and a withdrawninoperative position. Each stop 13, 14 is thereby pretensioned into itsinoperative position by a spring.

Tong-like holders of different construction are mounted to the leaflettong chain 27. All holders have conventional clamping jaws or tongs toclamp the leaflet 22 or 23. Moreover, each holder has an axis 30 whichextends transverse to the transport path PZK on each of which tworollers 17 a and 18 a are rotatably disposed to form the stop part ofthe holder 15 or 16. The holders 15, 16 differ with regard toarrangement and orientation of their stop parts 17, 18 and rollers 17 a,18 a. The stop part 17 with rollers 17 a of a tong-like holder of thefirst structure (first holder 15) is oriented such that it abuts againstthe stop 13 (first stop) when it is in its operative position. Thesecond stop 14 is ineffective for the first holder 15. The stop part 18of a holder of the second structure (second holder 16) is oriented withits rollers 18 a such that they abut against the second stop 14 duringpassage of the opening unit 12 when the second stop 14 is in itsoperative position. The first stop 13 is ineffective for the secondholder 16. The first and second holders 15 and 16 are alternatelydisposed on the leaflet tong chain 27, i.e. every second holder is aholder of the first structure, with a holder of the second structurebeing provided between each of them.

FIG. 1 shows that the plunger 11 has a first associated detector device19 to detect whether the plunger 11 is displaced, thereby inserting theproduct P. The first detector device 19 transmits a correspondinginsertion signal to a control device 26 via a data line L. Moreover, asecond detector device 20 is provided close to the leaflet tong chain 27before the opening unit 12 to determine that the next tong-like holderto be opened has obtained a predetermined position and to determine thestructure of this holder, i.e. whether it is to be opened by the firststop 13 or the second stop 14 of the opening unit 12. The seconddetector device 20 transmits a corresponding holder signal to thecontrol device 26. The signals are processed in the control device. Whenthe first detector device 19 has determined that the product P isinserted, all required conditions for releasing the leaflet 22 or 23from the tong-like holder 15, 16 are met. The control device 26 controlsthe actuating device 24, 25 of that stop 13, 14 which is associated withthe next tong-like holder 15 to be opened as was determined by thesecond detector device 20.

In the embodiment shown, the stop part 17 of the first holder 15 abutsagainst the first stop 13 via the rollers 17 a when the first stop is inits operative position. The tong-like holder 15 is opened throughabutment of the stop part 17 on the first stop 13 such that the leafletis carried along by the product P during its insertion motion and can beinserted into the package V. The tong-like holder 15 may be open for arelatively long time, since the next holder to be opened has anotherstructure and cooperates with the other stop. FIG. 2 shows that the stoppart 18 of the tong-like holder 16 is still in abutment with theassociated stop 14 when the stop part 17 of the next tong-like holder 15is already in abutment with the other stop 13.

When the first detector device 19 determines that the product P is notinserted, this means that not all conditions are met which are requiredfor proper transfer of the product. The corresponding insertion signalprovides indication to the control device 26 that the stop which isassociated with the next tong-like holder is to be brought into theinoperative position to ensure that the holder does not abut against thestop and is correspondingly not opened. The leaflet remains in thetong-like holder and is removed and discharged at another location ofthe leaflet tong chain.

1. A packaging machine for inserting a product and a leaflet into apackage, the machine comprising: a transfer device cooperating with theproduct to insert the product into the package; a circulating leafletsupply device; first holders structured to grasp and hold one leafleteach, said first holders mounted to and moving along with saidcirculating leaflet supply device to dispose a leaflet between theproduct and the package in a region of said transfer device in such amanner that the leaflet can be inserted together with the product intothe package; second holders structured to grasp and hold one leafleteach, said second holders mounted to and moving along with saidcirculating leaflet supply device to dispose a leaflet between theproduct and the package in a region of said transfer device in such amanner that the leaflet can be inserted together with the product intothe package, each of said second holders neighboring one of said firstholders on at least one side thereof; a first stop cooperating with saidfirst holders to release the leaflet; means for actuating said firststop to move said first stop into an operative position disposed in atransport path of said first holders and into an inoperative position inwhich said first stop is removed from cooperation with said firstholders; a second stop cooperating with said second holders to releasethe leaflet; and means for actuating said second stop to move saidsecond stop into an operative position disposed in a transport path ofsaid second holders and into an inoperative position in which saidsecond stop is removed from cooperation with said second holders.
 2. Thepackaging machine of claim 1, further comprising third holdersstructured to grasp and hold one leaflet each, said third holdersmounted to and moving along with said circulating leaflet supply deviceto dispose a leaflet between the product and the package in a region ofsaid transfer device in such a manner that the leaflet can be insertedtogether with the product into the package and also further comprising athird stop cooperating with said third holders to release the leaflet.3. The packaging machine of claim 1, wherein said first stop and saidsecond stop have a strip-shape and are disposed one above an other. 4.The packaging machine of claim 1, wherein said first stop actuatingmeans comprises a first spring pretensioning said first stop into saidinoperative position, said first stop actuating means moving said firststop into said operative position against pretension of said firstspring, and wherein said second stop actuating means comprises a secondspring pretensioning said second stop into said inoperative position,said second stop actuating means moving said second stop into saidoperative position against pretension of said second spring.
 5. Thepackaging machine of claim 1, wherein each of said first holderscomprises a first stop part for cooperation with said first stop andeach of said second holders comprises a second stop part for cooperationwith said second stop.
 6. The packaging machine of claim 5, wherein saidfirst stop part comprises at least one first roller which rolls on saidfirst stop and said second stop part comprises at least one secondroller which rolls on said second stop.
 7. The packaging machine ofclaim 1, further comprising a first detector device for sensing aninsertion motion of the product into the package and for issuing acorresponding insertion signal to a control device.
 8. The packagingmachine of claim 7, further comprising a second detector device whichdetects a position and structure of a next holder to be opened and whichissues a corresponding holder signal to said control device.
 9. Thepackaging machine of claim 8, wherein stops can be brought intooperative positions in dependence on said insertion signal and saidholder signal.
 10. The packaging machine of claim 9, wherein said firstdetector device, said second detector device, said first stop, saidsecond stop, said first stop actuating means, and said second stopactuating means can be adjusted as a unit in a transport direction ofsaid leaflet supply device.